Corporate Sustainability Programs Focus on Employee Productivity and Health as More Companies Say They Will Pay Extra for Green Leased Space

HONG KONG, 9 Jan 2011 — Companies that occupy office space around the world consider sustainability a key factor in their space occupancy plans, and half of corporate real estate (CRE) executives say they will pay extra for space in green buildings, according to the fourth annual Sustainability Survey conducted by CoreNet Global and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Conducted in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Sustainability Survey results reveal a CRE industry in the process of reconciling the focus on reducing environmental impacts of buildings with the need to control costs and support corporate financial performance.

CoreNet Global, the premier association of CRE professionals worldwide, and Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading global commercial real estate services firm, have conducted the survey each year since 2007. Responses come from around the world, with many responses from multi-national corporate executives. Key findings of the survey include:

Sustainability is a critical business issue today for 64% of respondents and 92% consider sustainability criteria in their location decisions.

The number of respondents willing to pay more for green leased space jumped from 37% in 2009 to 50% in 2010.

31% of corporate executives ranked employee productivity and health as their top sustainability concern, and an additional 11% rated employee satisfaction as the most important factor.

"Corporations increasingly view sustainability strategies as a permanent aspect of their business, and real estate executives are key to implementing those strategies,” said Michael Zamora, Vice President of Communications, Asia at CoreNet Global. “The high percentage of CRE executives worldwide who consider sustainability in making location decisions shows how deeply this issue is engrained in the business community."

"The Sustainability Survey results reflect an evolution that we’re seeing in the industry," said Joel Quintal, Director of Sustainability, Australia of Energy and Sustainability Services at Jones Lang LaSalle. "Five years ago, a CRE executive might have thought sustainability was a costly way to make the company look good to employees. Two years ago, that same executive probably focused on energy management as a way to save money in the short run. Today, he or she may be pursuing green strategies that enhance employee productivity."

Paying for Green Space

The jump in the percentage of respondents saying they would pay extra for green leased space may be a reflection of the more stable economic climate today than in the previous two years. An additional 23 percent said they would pay more in rent if it were offset by lower energy costs, reinforcing the idea that green space has financial benefits.

In general, CRE executives are more willing to invest in space they own than they are willing to pay extra for leased space. Most survey respondents – 57 percent – confirmed anecdotal consensus of one to three years as an acceptable payback period for energy efficiency measures in owned space. Just 4 percent said they expect strategies to pay for themselves the first year, while 30 percent said payback periods of three to five years may be acceptable, and 9 percent would consider sustainability measures even longer payback periods.

"Although a lot of energy management strategies pay for themselves the first year, many companies have exhausted those opportunities and want to go to the next level," said Mr Quintal. "By replacing lighting systems or putting in ‘smart’ systems, companies may see their investment pay off within three years. A more extensive retrofit or a solar power installation usually will take longer to pay for itself, but still makes sense in some situations for financial reasons, or as a way for a company to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability."

Employee Health and Productivity

A small but important shift in the survey results from 2009 to 2010 involves the relative importance of operational costs compared to less-tangible workforce benefits of sustainability. In 2010, 32 percent of respondents ranked energy cost as their most important sustainability metric, down from 37 percent who ranked it number one in 2009. At the same time, employee health and productivity was ranked as the most important measure of success by 31 percent in 2010, up from 29 percent in 2009. An additional 11 percent ranked employee satisfaction as the most important criteria.

These results reinforce trends that Jones Lang LaSalle has experienced in serving corporate real estate clients worldwide. "The focus on containing operational cost remains a driver of many sustainability programs, but CRE executives also recognize the value of enhancing workplace effectiveness with strategies that promote employee health, well-being and productivity," said Mr Quintal.

The impact of sustainability on corporate real estate will be discussed further when senior level CRE executives from across Asia Pacific gather in Hong Kong for the CoreNet Global Summit on March 22 – 24, 2011. At the event, Jones Lang LaSalle’s experts will join other industry leaders to share insights into the way that global social changes such as sustainability are impacting CRE now and into the future.